Apparatus and method for reproducing multiple camera-angle signals from a disc

ABSTRACT

The method and apparatus for reproducing data from a disk receives at least video data read from a disk such as a digital video disk or a digital versatile disk. At least a portion of the video data is then processed to produce image data such that different camera angle images are simultaneously displayed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reproducingsignals from a disc; and more particularly, for reproducing multiplecamera-angle signals from a Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc(DVD).

2. Description of Related Art

A DVD is manufactured by masking image signals into digital form, andallows for many diverse functions. For instance, the image signals formultiple camera angles may be recorded on a DVD.

FIG. 2 illustrates, conceptually, the arrangement of data on a DVD. Asshown, the image data representing a scene for each camera angle aregrouped into angle blocks. Angle block 1, for instance, includes theimage data for each camera angle of the first scene.

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate the data format of the image data stored on theDVD. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, predetermined amounts of image dataare each represented by a Video Object Set (VOB) and collectively asVideo Object Sets (VOBS). A VOB consists of multiple cells of image dataas shown in FIG. 3C. Each cell in a VOB corresponds to an angle block asshown in FIG. 2, and includes image data for a scene. Also, each cellconsists of a plurality of Video Object Units (VOBU) as shown in FIG.3D. Because scenes have different amounts of data, the amount of data indifferent cells can differ.

Each VOBU consists of a navigation packet (NV PCK), a plurality of videopackets (V PCK), and an audio packet (A PCK) as shown in FIG. 3E. Anavigation packet includes navigation data regarding, for instance, thevideo data stored in the video packets. The video data stored in videopackets is encoded according to the well-known MPEG standard.

A conventional DVD reproducing apparatus reproduces the digital datarecorded on a DVD. When the image signals for multiple camera angles(e.g., nine camera angles) are recorded on a DVD, a conventional DVDreproducing apparatus allows a user to select one of the imagescorresponding to one of the camera angles for viewing as shown in FIG.1A. Specifically, the conventional DVD reproducing apparatus navigatesfrom the video data for the selected camera angle in one angle block orcell to the video data for the selected camera angle in the next angleblock or cell. If, the user changes camera angles, a jump is made asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3D to the video data in the next angle block orcell corresponding to the newly selected camera angle. Unfortunately,the conventional DVD reproducing apparatus does not allow simultaneousviewing of more than one camera angle.

As a result, a user must sequentially view the images corresponding toeach camera angle to gain an appreciation of the differences between thecamera angles. It is, however, not easy to gain an appreciation of thedifferences between the camera angles in this manner. Consequently, itis difficult for a user to select an optimal camera angle for viewing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reproducing methodand apparatus which overcome the disadvantages and problems discussedabove with respect to the conventional art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reproducingmethod and apparatus which simultaneously display image signalscorresponding to a plurality of camera angles.

These and other objects are achieved by providing (a) receiving at leastvideo data read from a disk; (b) processing at least a portion of saidreceived video data to produce image data such that different cameraangle images are simultaneously displayed.

These and other objects are further achieved by providing receivingmeans receiving at least video data read from a disk; and processingmeans for processing at least a portion of said video data to produceimage data such that different camera angle images are simultaneouslydisplayed.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitativeof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates the display of a single camera angle;

FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate displays of multiple camera angles;

FIG. 2 illustrates, conceptually, the arrangement of data on a DVD;

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate the data format of the video data stored on aDVD;

FIG. 4 illustrates the reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a flow chart of the reproducing processaccording to the present invention implemented by the reproducingapparatus of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 4 illustrates the reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 4, a signal separator 201 receives a bitstream reproduced from a DVD. The signal separator 201 separates the bitstream into a video bit stream and an audio bit stream, sends the audiobit stream to an audio processor 208, sends the video bit stream to avideo selector 202, and sends format or header information in the videobit stream to the microcomputer 210.

The audio processor 208 generates an audio output from the audio bitstream. The microcomputer 210 also receives user input, and based on theformat information and the user input generates servo control data andvideo control data. The servo control data is supplied to a servocontroller 209 which controls focus and tracking of the data reproducingelement (not shown) in a well-known manner. The video control data issupplied to the video selector 202.

The video selector 202 processes the received video bit stream based onthe video control data, and outputs a video bit stream to a videodecoder 203. The video decoder 203 stores the received video bit streamin a first memory 204, and decodes the received video bit stream. Thedecoder 203 outputs the resulting decoded video data to a videosynthesizer 205.

Besides the decoded video data, the video synthesizer 205 also receivesa portion of the video control data output by the micro-computer 210from the video selector 202. The video synthesizer 205 stores thedecoded video data in a second memory 206. Based on the stored videodata and the video control data, the video synthesizer 205 generatesimage data. A video encoder 207 receives and encodes the image data fordisplay.

Next, operation of the reproducing apparatus will be described in detailwith respect to FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B. Referring to FIG. 5A, in step S101,the microcomputer 210 receives user input and determines therefromwhether a reproduction mode has been selected.

If a reproduction mode has not been selected, processing ends. If areproduction mode has been selected, a bit stream is reproduced from aDVD. As shown in FIG. 4, the signal separator 201 receives thereproduced bit stream, separates the bit stream into a video bit streamand an audio bit stream, sends the audio bit stream to the audioprocessor 208, sends the video bit stream to a video selector 202, andsends format information in the video bit stream to the microcomputer210.

The microcomputer 210 determines from the format information whether theDVD stores video data for multiple camera angles in step S102. If theDVD does not store video data for multiple camera angles, processingends. Otherwise, the microcomputer 210 determines the total number ofcamera angles which can be reproduced from the DVD based on the formatinformation, and processing proceeds to step S103. In step S103, themicrocomputer 210 determines from the user input, e.g., depression of amulti-angle key (not shown), whether the user has requested the displayof multiple camera angles. If so, processing proceeds to step S104;otherwise, processing ends.

In step S104, the microcomputer 210 determines based on user inputwhether the user has selected all possible camera angles forsimultaneous display. If so, processing proceeds to step S105;otherwise, processing proceeds to step S107. In step S107, themicrocomputer 210 communicates with the video synthesizer 205 via thevideo selector 202, and instructs the video synthesizer 205 to display,for an allotted period of time, a message indicating the total number ofcamera angles which can be reproduced from the DVD.

Then, in step S109 the microcomputer 210 determines whether the user hasselected a total number of camera angles for display within apredetermined period of time. If a total number of camera angles fordisplay has been selected, processing proceeds to step S110; otherwise,processing returns to step S107. In step S110, the microcomputer 210determines whether the user has entered camera angles for display withina predetermined period of time. If entered, processing proceeds to stepSlll; otherwise, processing returns step S107.

Next, in step S111, the microcomputer 210 determines whether the numberof camera angle numbers entered for display by the user in step S110equals the total number of camera angles for display entered by the userin step S109. If equal, processing proceeds to step S105; otherwise,processing returns to step S107.

In step S105, one of the camera angles for display is selected fordisplay in a highlighted format. The camera angle selected for displayin the highlighted format (hereinafter “the highlighted camera angle”)is selected according to a default. For example, the camera angleassigned the lowest angle number is the default camera angle for displayin the highlighted format.

Then, in step S106, the microcomputer 210 establishes display addressesfor each camera angle to be displayed, and outputs the display addressesto the video synthesizer 205 via the video selector 202 so that themultiple camera angles will be displayed such as shown, for example, inFIGS. 1B and 1C. In step S112, the microcomputer 210 determines based onuser input whether the user wants to change the highlighted cameraangle. If so, processing proceeds to step S118; otherwise, processingproceeds to step S113. In step S118, the user enters the number of acamera angle to be displayed in the highlighted format. If this numbermatches one of the camera angles to be displayed, then the user input isaccepted and processing proceeds to step S113. Otherwise, the user inputis not accepted, and processing does not proceed to step S113 until anacceptable camera angle number is input.

In step S113, the first camera angle to be processed for the multiplecamera angle display is set as camera angle number one when allavailable camera angles were selected for display in step S104, and isset as the lowest camera angle number entered by the user in step S110if all available camera angles were not selected for display in stepS104. Then in step S114, the microcomputer 210 causes the video selector202 to output data from the VOBUs in the cell corresponding to thecamera angle to be processed. Specifically, the microcomputer 210instructs the video selector 202 to output only the minimum amount ofdata necessary to display an image from the VOBUs in a cell (i.e., theintra- or I-picture data).

The video decoder 203 temporarily stores this data in the first memory204, decodes the data, and outputs the decoded data to the videosynthesizer 205. The video synthesizer stores the decoded data in thesecond memory 206 based on the display addresses received from themicrocomputer 210.

This process is then repeated for each camera angle to be displayed inthe multiple camera angle display. Namely, in step S115, themicrocomputer 210 determines if the current camera angle to be displayedequals the highest numbered camera angle to be displayed. If not,processing proceeds to step S117; otherwise, processing proceeds to stepS119. In step S117 the number of the camera angle to be displayed isincreased by one if all available camera angles were selected fordisplay in step S104. Alternatively, the number of the camera angle tobe displayed is set to the next highest camera angle to be displayed,which was entered by the user in step S110, if all available cameraangles were not selected for display in step S104. Steps S114 and S115are then repeated.

Steps S117, S114 and S115 will continue to be repeated until the currentcamera angle to be displayed equals the highest number of a camera angleto be displayed. When this occurs, processing proceeds from step S117 tostep S119.

In step S119, the microcomputer 210 controls the servo controller 209such that the audio data corresponding to the camera angle to bedisplayed in the highlighted format is reproduced. The video separator201 outputs the reproduced audio data to the audio processor 208.

In step S123, the audio processor 208 outputs the audio datacorresponding to the highlighted camera angle, and the video synthesizer205 generates image data for a multiple camera angle display based onthe video data stored in the second memory. Each camera angle fordisplay in the multiple camera angle display is positioned according toits storage location in the second memory (i.e., the display address).

Based on instructions received by the microcomputer 210 via the videoseparator 202, the video synthesizer 205 generates the image datacorresponding to the highlighted camera angle such that the highlightedcamera angle is displayed in the highlighted format.

Additionally, in accordance with the instructions received from themicrocomputer 210, the video synthesizer 205 generates the image datasuch that the camera angle number for each camera angle in the multiplecamera angle display appears in a portion of the multiple camera angledisplay corresponding to that camera angle number. Then, the videoencoder 207 encodes the image data and outputs the encoded image datafor display.

Processing proceeds to step S125 and the microcomputer 210 determineswhether the user has selected to stop multiple camera angle display. Ifmultiple camera angle display has not been stopped, processing proceedsto step S112; otherwise, processing proceeds to step S126. In step S126,the video and audio data corresponding to the camera angle displayed inthe highlighted format is solely reproduced in the well-known manner.

Because the reproducing apparatus according to the present inventiononly reproduces the smallest amount of data from the VOBUs necessary todisplay an image, as opposed to reproducing all the video data in theVOBU, the video decoder 203 decodes a significantly less amount of datacompared to conventional reproducing apparatuses. Therefore, thereproducing apparatus according to the present invention cansimultaneously display multiple camera angles using a single decoder.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of reproducing data from a disk,comprising the steps of: (a) receiving at least video data read fromsaid disk, said received video data divided into a plurality of cells,each cell including video data associated with a different camera angle;(b) processing a portion of each cell in a number of said plurality ofcells to produce image data such that different camera angle images aresimultaneously displayed.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step a)receives video data and format information read from the disk, saidreceived video data is composed of at least one video object, which ispart of an MPEG 2 program stream, said video object is divided into saidplurality of cells, each cell is divided into video object units, eachof which is an integer number of video fields, and each video objectunit is divided into video packs; said step b) processes said portion ofeach cell in said number of said pluralitv of cells when said formatinformation indicates that said disk stores video data for multiplecamera angles; and further including, c) temporarily storing output ofsaid step b).
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said portion of eachcell is one of the video object units or one of the video packs.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein said portion of each cell is intra-picturedata.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said portion of each cell isintra-picture data.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said number ofcells is less than said plurality of cells corresponding to differentcamera angles.
 7. The method of claim 2, further comprising: (d) judgingwhether said disk stores video data representing more than one cameraangle image based on said received format information; and wherein saidstep (b) processes said portion of each cell in said number of saidplurality of cells when said step (d) judges that said disk stores videodata representing more than one camera angle image.
 8. the method ofclaim 1, further comprising: (d) receiving user input indicating whetherto display more than one camera angle image simultaneously; and whereinsaid step (b) processes said portion of each cell in said number of saidplurality of cells when said user input indicates to display more thanone camera angle image simultaneously.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid portion is a minimum amount of video data to display one of saiddifferent camera angle images.
 10. A method of reproducing data from adisk, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving at least video data andformat information read from a disk, said received format informationindicating a number of multiple camera angles represented by saidreceived video data; (b) determining a number of camera angles which canbe reproduced from the disk based on said received format information;(c) determining from user input whether the user has requested allpossible camera angles or a subset thereof for simultaneous display; and(d) processing portions of said received video data to produce imagedata when said user input received in said step (c) indicates to displaymore than one camera angle image simultaneously.
 11. The method of claim10, further comprising: (e) displaying a message indicating said numberof camera angles which can be reproduced from the disk.
 12. The methodof claim 10, wherein said step (c) determines whether said user hasselected all possible camera angles or a subset thereof for simultaneousdisplay within a predetermined period of time.
 13. The method of claim10, further comprising: (e) receiving user input which designates one ofsaid camera angle images being simultaneously displayed; (f) receivinguser input on whether to solely display said designated camera angleimage; (g) controlling a reproducing element to read video datacorresponding to said designated camera angle image from said disk whensaid step (f) receives user input instructing to solely display saiddesignated camera angle image; and (h) processing said video data readin step (g) to produce image data representing said designated cameraangle image.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step (b) processessaid portions of said received video data such that said designatedcamera angle image is displayed in a highlighted format.
 15. The methodof claim 10, further comprising: (e) receiving user input whichdesignates one of said camera angle images being simultaneouslydisplayed; and wherein said step (b) processes said portions of saidreceived video data such that said designated camera angle image isdisplayed in a highlighted format.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereinsaid step (a) further receives audio data; and further including (f)outputting portions of said received audio data corresponding to saiddesignated camera angle image to be displayed in said highlightedformat.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein said portion is a minimumamount of video data to display one of said different camera angleimages.
 18. A method of reproducing data from a disk, comprising thesteps of: (a) receiving at least video data, audio data and formatinformation read from a disk, said received format informationindicating a number of multiple camera angles represented by saidreceived video and audio data; (b) judging whether said disk storesvideo data and audio data associated with more than one camera angleimage based on said received format information; (c) receiving userinput requesting multiple camera angles for simultaneous display whensaid step (b) judges that said disk stores video data representing morethan one camera angle image; (d) receiving user input which designatesone of said camera angle images; (e) processing portions of saidreceived video data to produce image data for multiple camera angleswhen said user input received in said step (c) indicates to display morethan one camera angle image simultaneously; (f) processing portions ofsaid received audio data associated with said designated camera angleimage; and (g) outputting the audio data corresponding to the desiredcamera angle simultaneously with the simultaneous dispIlay of more thanone camera angle image.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step(a) separates said received video data and said received audio data. 20.The method of claim 18, further comprising: (g) displaying a messageindicating said number of camera angles which can be reproduced fromsaid disk.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein said step (c) determineswhether a user has selected all possible camera angles or a subsetthereof for display within a predetermined period of time.
 22. Themethod of claim 18 wherein said step (e) processes said portions of saidreceived video data such that said designated camera angle image isdisplayed in a highlighted format.
 23. The method of claim 22, whereinthe step (e) processes said portions of said video data such that saidcamera angle selected for display in said highlighted format is adefault camera angle if said step (d) does not receive user input withina predetermined period of time.
 24. The method of claim 18, wherein saidportion is a minimum amount of video data to display one of saiddifferent camera angle images.
 25. An apparatus for reproducing datafrom a disk, comprising: receiving means for receiving at least videodata and audio data read from a disk; processing means for processingportions of said video data to produce image data such that differentcamera angle images are simultaneously displayed; a controller receivinguser input which designates one of said camera angle images beingsimultaneously displayed, and controlling said processing means toproduce said image data such that said designated camera angle image isdisplayed in a highlighted format and such that said audio datacorresponding to said designated camera angle is simultaneously output.26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising: a signal separatorseparating said received video data and said received audio data. 27.The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said processing means furthercomprises: a video selector separating video data portions correspondingto each camera angle image from said received video data, each videodata portion being a minimum unit of data to display a camera angleimage; and a synthesizer synthesizing at least said video data portionsto produce image data representing a synthesized image of multiplecamera angle images.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein saidcontroller causes said video selector to output said video data portionsnecessary to display said image data of said different camera angleimages.
 29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said portion is a minimumamount of video data to display one of said different camera angleimages.
 30. An apparatus for reproducing data from a disk, comprising: areceiving unit to receive at least video data read from a disk, saidvideo data being composed of a video object (VOB), which is part or allof an MPEG 2 program stream, said video object (VOB) being divided intoone or more cells, each of which being a group of pictures, each celldivided into video object units (VOBU), each of which is an integernumber of video fields, each video object unit (VOBU) being divided intovideo packs; a signal processor coupled to said receiving unit,processing a portion of each cell to produce image data such thatdifferent camera angle images are displayed simultaneously, said signalprocessor including, a video selector separating said portion of eachcell, a single decoder decoding output from said video selector, and asynthesizer synthesizing output from said decoder to produce image datarepresenting a synthesized image of said different camera angles; and acontroller receiving user input indicating whether to display more thanone camera angle image simultaneously, and controlling said signalprocessor to process said portion of each cell when said user inputindicates to display more than one camera angle image simultaneously.31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising: a storing unit,coupled to said decoder, temporarily storing said output from saiddecoder.
 32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said portion of eachcell is a VOBU, intra picture data, or a video pack.
 33. The apparatusof claim 30, wherein said receiving unit further receives audio data;and said controller controls said signal processor such that portions ofsaid received audio data corresponding to said designated camera angleimage are reproduced.
 34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein saidportion is a minimum amount of video data to display one of saiddifferent camera angle images.
 35. A method of reproducing data from adisk, comprising steps of: (a) receiving at least video data and formatinformation read from a disk, said received format informationindicating a number of multiple camera angles represented by saidreceived video data; (b) judging whether said disk stores video datarepresenting more than one camera angle image based on said receivedformat information; (c) receiving user input requesting multiple cameraangles for simultaneous display when said step (b) judges that said diskstores video data representing more than one camera angle image; and (d)processing portions of said received video data to produce image datafor multiple camera angles such that a default one of the multiplecamera angles for simultaneous display is displayed in a highlightedformat when said user input received in said step (c) indicates todisplay more than one camera angle image simultaneously.
 36. The methodof claim 35, wherein the camera angle assigned a lowest angle number isthe default camera angle for display in the highlighted format.
 37. Themethod of claim 35, wherein said step (a) receives said video data, saidformat information and audio data; and further including, (e) separatingsaid received video data and said received audio data, and (f)processing said received audio data.
 38. The method of claim 35, furthercomprising: (e) determining whether said user has selected all cameraangles or a subset thereof for display within a predetermined period oftime.
 39. The method of claim 35, wherein said step (a) further receivesaudio data; and further including, (f) outputting portions of saidreceived audio data corresponding to said default camera angle image fordisplay in said highlighted format.
 40. The method of claim 35, whereinsaid portion is a minimum amount of video data to display one of saiddifferent camera angle images.
 41. An apparatus for reproducing datafrom a disk, comprising: a receiving unit to receive at least video dataread from the disk; a processing unit to process portions of said videodata to produce image data such that different camera angle images aresimultaneously displayed; and a controller receiving user inputrequesting multiple camera angles for simultaneous display andcontrolling said processing unit to produce said image data such that adefault one of the multiple camera angles for simultaneous display isdisplayed in a highlighted format.
 42. The apparatus of claim 41,wherein said receiving unit receives digital data including saidreceived video data and audio data, and further including, a signalseparator separating said received video data and said received audiodata.
 43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said processing unitfurther comprises: a video selector separating video data portionscorresponding to each camera angle from said received video data, eachvideo data portion being a minimum unit of data to display a cameraangle image; and a synthesizer synthesizing at least said separatedvideo data portions to produce image data presenting a synthesized imageof multiple camera angle images.
 44. The apparatus of claim 43, whereinsaid controller controls operation of said video selector.
 45. Theapparatus of claim 41, wherein said portion is a minimum amount of videodata to display one of said different camera angle images.